Backpacking During COVID Shutdowns

Its crazy to think that a year ago today I was in Central America, hitchhiking on the back of a motorcycle across El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua as borders closed around me due to covid shutdowns. My “year long gap year around the world” came crashing down on me in a flash with the arrival of covid. A historical crisis larger than any any of us had experienced in our lifetimes. I took this photo as I sat disheartened, waiting 5 hours to cross into Nicaragua from Honduras after having gotten out of El Salvador hours before the 24 hour notice for 3 week shut down. I navigated solo international travel as hotels, hostels, tour busses and all means of travel began reducing schedules, closing doors, and denying travelers. I remember backpacking prior to this stage, and finding myself on what was known to be the “gringo trail.” A trail of highlights across Central America that draws foreign travelers and tourists alike. I had a desire to get off and see what it would be like to experience a deeper sense of exploration into local life in this region of the world. I got my wish during covid. Riding 575 miles across 3 countries, crossing borders, not only seeing, but feeling, smelling, and in some cases tasting the landscape as I cruised through to escape being locked within a country’s borders for weeks at a time during lockdowns and mandatory quarantines was equal parts scary and thrilling. I befriended a fellow traveler at a hostel and “hitchhiked.” Pivoted staying at travel establishments and elected to stay only at Airbnb’s, quarantining and visiting only outdoor areas like beaches, volcanoes, and hikes. Cooking my own meals. Living much like I am now, but abroad, in countries not of my own where I was a fledgling speaker of the native tongue. Eventually, even this stage came to an end as I received messages from the US embassy while in Nicaragua stating that the last known flights were available and would not be again for the “unforeseeable future” (which turned out to not be until August, while this was in March). Rest in comment section...